How to Write a Eulogy for Your Headteacher - Eulogy Examples & Tips

You have been asked to speak about someone who shaped a school and shaped people. That is a heavy honor and a heavy ask. This guide gives you a clear plan for writing a eulogy that respects the role of a headteacher and also feels honest, human, and memorable. We include step by step templates, ready to use examples, tone guidance for staff students and parents, and delivery tips so you do not freeze when the mic is handed to you.

If you want extra blunt truth, here it is. A great eulogy is less about perfect language and more about truth, clarity, and a few specific images that make listeners remember one person rather than a list of job achievements. Read this in a noisy staff room between lessons if you must. You will finish with usable lines and three templates you can adapt fast.

What is a eulogy

A eulogy is a short speech that honors someone who has died. It often appears at a funeral memorial or celebration of life. The goal is to capture a person in words well enough that people in the room feel seen and comforted. A eulogy can be formal or informal. It can be serious or include lighter moments. The right tone depends on the headteacher the speech remembers and the audience gathered.

Who usually delivers a headteacher eulogy

• Senior staff such as a deputy headteacher or assistant headteacher
• A close colleague or fellow senior leader
• A member of the school governing body or board
• A parent or a long standing member of the parent teacher association, abbreviated PTA, that represents families
• A student representative or class that had a special relationship with the headteacher
• A friend or family member who also worked at the school

Each speaker has a different perspective. Staff can explain professional impact. Parents can speak to community relationships. Students can speak raw truth about the daily moments we do not notice until later.

How long should your eulogy be

Short and clear beats long and aimless. Aim for three to seven minutes for most headteacher eulogies. One to two minutes works well if you are one of several speakers. Ten minutes can work if you were extremely close and the format allows it. Always check with the funeral organiser or family about timing. They may prefer many short tributes instead of one long speech.

First things to do when you are asked

1. Confirm where and when you will speak and how much time they want you to take.
2. Ask who else is speaking so your speech does not repeat content.
3. Ask the family if there are topics to avoid and ask for any names or facts to confirm.
4. Gather quick memory notes from colleagues parents and students. Short interviews work well.
5. Decide on tone. Will it be formal and respectful or more conversational and personal.

How to research what to include

You do not need a full biography. You need a few things that show who the headteacher was in school life and away from it.

• Basic facts to confirm. Dates attended or tenure as headteacher. School roles previously held. Confirm spellings of names and names of family members.
• Professional highlights. Did they lead a major building project? Were they the one to introduce special educational needs support known as SEN support? Explain acronyms. SEN means special educational needs. Include what that work meant for children.
• Anecdotes. One or two short true stories that reveal character. Ask colleagues for one memory each that is specific and short.
• Student memories. Ask a few students for one line about a moment that mattered. Students speak about how adults made them feel seen. That will land.
• Values. What did the headteacher stand for? Fairness? Creativity? Discipline with warmth? Name those values and give an example.

Structure to follow

Use a simple structure so your words feel organized under pressure.

1. Opening say your name explain your relationship to the headteacher and why you are speaking.
2. Short biography a few key facts framed around what matters at school.
3. Professional impact one or two examples of initiatives students and staff remember.
4. Personal memories two short stories that reveal character.
5. What they taught us the values and lessons that remain.
6. Thanks and acknowledgement mention family and the school community.
7. Closing a short line to end with that offers comfort or a call to remember.

Openers that work

Start strong and simple. You do not need to be poetic. You need to be clear.

• My name is Emma James. I have been deputy head for five years and I had the privilege of working beside Mr Parker.
• I am Tom Rivers. I am speaking as a parent and as chair of the PTA.
• On behalf of the staff and students I want to say thank you to Mrs Green for her leadership kindness and stubborn sense of fairness.

Notice the pattern. Name role relation short claim. That gives the audience a anchor and permission to listen.

How to write the life overview

Keep the biographical facts short and relevant. Avoid a long list of dates unless they show change. Focus on what the headteacher did for the school and the people in it.

Example lines

• She joined Riverbank Primary as headteacher in 2011 when the school had just over 200 pupils. Under her guidance the building was refurbished and the reading program raised progress across every year group.
• He believed that every child could succeed. He set up after school clubs starting with chess that grew into a healthy competition team.

Picking anecdotes that matter

Anecdotes are the emotional currency of a eulogy. Pick them carefully. Use the rule of one scene one sentence summary one memory. Keep length short.

Good anecdote structure

1. Set the scene. A place a time and who was there.
2. Show one action that reveals character.
3. Say in one sentence why it matters.

Example

At the summer fair she stood at the bouncy castle and handed out sunscreen from her handbag to every child who looked like they had been in the sun too long. She did not announce it. She just noticed. That small kindness is how she led the school.

How to quote others and use readings

Short quotes can be powerful. Use one quote from a student parent or colleague and say who said it. If you include a poem or a religious reading confirm with the family and the service leader. Many schools are multifaith and the family may prefer a secular reading.

Examples of short quotes

• Student quote: "She knew my name before she knew my grades."
• Parent quote: "He turned my anxious child into a reader by reading with her every Friday."
• Colleague quote: "Her emails made you smile even when there was a problem to solve."

Formal tone versus informal tone

Match the headteacher. If they preferred polished assemblies and official events use a bit more formality. If they were the kind to wear trainers at playground duty use a conversational voice. The audience will notice authenticity more than style. Choose one tone and stay in it rather than jumping between styles.

What to say about professional achievements

Frame achievements as impact on children staff and community. Skip the full list of committees and positions unless those lists mean something to people in the room.

Write lines like this

• Under his leadership the proportion of children achieving expected standards in reading rose each year because he invested in teacher coaching and a simple daily reading routine.
• She made sure the school was open to families. The breakfast club was her idea and it changed how some children started their day.

How to handle controversy or difficult facts

If the headteacher faced criticism or difficult moments, do not air grievances in a eulogy. The funeral is not the place for public debate. If you must mention a hard time keep it brief and frame it with compassion. Often the kindest approach is to focus on recovery resilience and the ways people supported one another.

How to include students

Students can be the most moving part of any headteacher tribute. If a student is speaking keep the language simple and the memory short. If you are a staff speaker include a line or two of student voice gathered beforehand. That mix of adult perspective and student truth is potent.

Eulogy samples you can adapt

Below are ready to use templates for three common scenarios. Each is written in a voice you can copy and adapt with simple swaps for names facts and memories.

Template 1 Staff speaker deputy or assistant head

Hello my name is Sarah Malik and I have been deputy head at Oakfield Primary for seven years. Today I speak for the staff and for the many children who loved being known by Mrs Lewis. She joined our school in 2013 and from day one her belief was simple. Every child matters.

Under her leadership our reading outcomes improved and our free after school clubs grew from two to eight. That mattered because these were places where quiet children found a voice and where older pupils learned to mentor younger ones.

I will never forget a wet Tuesday when she found a small boy sitting under the climbing frame while everyone else was inside at break. She sat down beside him took off her coat and asked if he wanted to talk. He did. He later told me that that moment made him feel safe enough to try a school play. That is the work she did every day. She noticed and she made space.

To Mrs Lewis family we thank you for sharing her with our school. To our staff and children we will carry her insistence on kindness in the way we treat each other every day.

Thank you Claire for showing us what it means to lead with heart.

Template 2 Parent or PTA representative

Good afternoon I am Mark Evans and I have two children who attended St Marys Primary. On behalf of the PTA I want to say thank you to Mr Ahmed for his tireless work and for always answering emails late at night with patience and humor.

He believed that school should be a community and he turned that belief into practice. The summer fair that he organised each year became the night our street felt connected. He had a way of speaking to every child that made them feel seen whether they were in Year One or Year Six.

My daughter still talks about the time he came into class dressed as a cupcake for World Book Day because a child was scared to stand up for a reading. He did not do big speeches about it he just did it and that is the kind of leader he was.

We are grateful for his warmth and for the quiet ways he lifted our children. Thank you to his family for letting the school be part of his life.

Template 3 Student speaker aged 14

Hi my name is Ayesha I am in Year Nine and I want to say something about Mr Reed. He was our headteacher and also the person who started the chess club. I was terrible at first but he showed me how to focus and now I play in competitions.

One afternoon he stayed after school to help me practice even though he had a meeting. He told me that the best thing about school is seeing someone try and then get better. That was him. He wanted to see people do well.

I will miss him but I will also remember his advice. Play the long game. Think one move ahead. Thanks Mr Reed for believing in me.

Short eulogy samples by length

Use these if you have a strict time limit. Replace names and one or two details and you are ready to go.

One minute

My name is Lucy Wong I am a teacher at Greenfields and I want to say thank you to Mr Hart. He taught us how to listen. Every morning he stood at the gate and said hello to every child by name. That small habit made our school feel like a community. We will miss him dearly.

Three minutes

Hello I am Peter Collins I taught science for 12 years and I worked with Mrs Stone as a colleague and a friend. She joined our school in 2009 and built a culture where questions were encouraged and mistakes were used to learn. She started the after school robotics club which led to several students choosing engineering in college. Beyond achievements she had a quick joke and a serious ear. When budgets were tight she found ways to keep art supplies in classrooms by asking local business owners for small donations. That mix of humor and resourcefulness is how she led. To her family thank you for sharing her with us.

Five minutes

Good morning I am Daniel Brooks chair of governors. I offer memories as someone who worked with Mr Patel on every major decision for over a decade. He came to our school with a clear belief that schools exist to level the playing field. He introduced mentoring for vulnerable pupils set up a partnership with the local college and championed teacher development. I remember a specific term when results were low and he spent his nights writing individual plans for pupils. He did not think leadership was a title. He thought leadership was work. Beyond that work he had a habit of bringing cake for staff on a Friday and of checking the hands of nervous new teachers for shaking before assemblies. He believed in humans first in paperwork second. We thank his family for letting our school share his life and we promise to carry his work forward.

Language and tone tips

• Prefer simple direct sentences. They read better under pressure and feel more honest.
• Avoid cliché phrases like she will be missed in every sentence. Use specific reasons why she will be missed.
• Include one line of humor only if you know the audience will welcome it. Keep it gentle and never at the headteacher expense.
• Say short full stops rather than long trailing sentences. It helps the audience follow and it helps you breathe.

Pronunciation and names

Practice saying the headteacher full name and the names of family members. If you are unsure about how to pronounce a name ask someone who knows and rehearse it aloud. Get the correct pronunciation ready. Nothing is more jarring than mispronouncing a close family name at a funeral. Also confirm titles such as Mrs Miss or Dr with the family in advance.

Accessibility and practical considerations

Find out if the venue has a microphone and if you need to bring your own. If you plan to read notes make sure the text size is large enough for close reading under stress. If you are a student ask for a supportive adult to stand near you. If you have a printed copy for the family print an extra copy for the service leader. Finally find out whether the service will be recorded streamed or private. Permission matters.

How to handle emotions when delivering

It is normal to cry. Prepare a backup plan so the moment does not stop the speech.

1. Have a glass of water handy.
2. Mark emotional passages in your notes so you can pause before them and breathe.
3. If you cannot continue ask the next speaker to take over or ask for a few seconds and read the closing line from a printed card. People will understand.
4. Practice the hardest line so the words become muscle memory. Even with tears you can deliver rehearsed lines.

Notes on religious and secular options

If the headteacher was religious it may suit the family to have readings prayers or hymns. If not keep it secular and focus on memories and values. Many school communities are multifaith and the family will guide the appropriate tone. If you are unsure always ask.

Legal and privacy considerations

Do not reveal medical details or sensitive family matters without explicit permission. If the cause of death was private respect that privacy. Also be careful when naming children or young people in stories. If a story could identify a child in a way that might embarrass them later get parental permission first. The family will appreciate discretion.

Checklist before you walk up to the lectern

• Confirm time slot and order of speakers with the service organiser.
• Have two printed copies of your speech one for you and one for the family or service leader.
• Mark pauses and breaths in your notes.
• Confirm microphone position and volume with the technician if one is available.
• Practice the first line until you can say it calmly.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too many anecdotes. Pick two and make them count.
• Long lists of positions held. Frame roles by impact not title.
• Trying to be a comedian. Jokes are risky in grief settings unless you are sure.
• Using complicated vocabulary. Keep language accessible.
• Surprising the family with new information. Run sensitive content past them first.

How to finish your eulogy

End with a short line of thanks or a simple invitation to remember. A closing that returns to the opening works well. For example if you began by describing a playground greeting you might end with an image of that greeting carrying on in memory.

Examples of closers

• Thank you for everything Mrs Brown. We will keep your welcome at the gate in our hearts.
• Rest well Mr Jones. We will do our best to keep your ideas alive in our school.
• We are grateful for her. Let us remember her by being kind to one another.

Extra: What to write in a funeral order of service

If you are helping the family prepare the printed order of service include a short 50 to 100 word tribute separate from the full eulogy. That short tribute can be read by someone else later. It also serves people who cannot attend. Keep that snippet simple and focused on a single idea about the headteacher.

Resources you can use

• Ask the school office for past newsletters and social media posts that capture highlights.
• Check the school yearbook or class photographs for short captions to confirm dates.
• Speak to the chair of governors for key achievements and for wording they prefer on official mentions.
• If the school had an inspection such as OFSTED mention it only if it is relevant. OFSTED stands for Office for Standards in Education Children s Services and Skills and is the department that inspects schools in England. Explain any inspection results in plain language not jargon.

Final prep: Rehearse like you mean it

Read your speech aloud three times at minimum. Time yourself. If you stumble record one run and listen back. Practice breathing at punctuation marks and doing a small pause after each key line. That gives the audience time to absorb and gives you a place to breathe and gather yourself.